METHOD OF EXCITING GAS-DISCHARGE LASERS AND APPARATUS FOR REALISING SAID METHOD Russian patent published in 2012 - IPC H01S3/97 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: high-voltage discharge is excited by applying supply voltage between a cathode and anode in a gas-discharge cell. The cathode and anode are made in form of electrodes which are extended by the length of the laser medium, wherein a mesh cathode and a solid anode are used. A beam of atoms or molecules is formed in the discharge space between the solid anode and the mesh cathode in the strong field of cathode potential drop of glow discharge, where said beam is directed through holes in the mesh cathode to the laser medium excitation region behind the mesh cathode outside the discharge space. The apparatus has a high-voltage power supply, as well as a cathode and an anode in form of hollow cylinders placed coaxially with respect to each other in the gas-discharge cell. The cathode has smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the solid anode. The cathode for allowing the beam of atoms or molecules to reach the laser medium excitation region is a mesh with small holes which prevent penetration into the drift region of the beam of atoms or molecules of an electric field which is sufficient to generate a reverse electron in the direction of propagation of the beam of atoms or molecules.

EFFECT: high laser efficiency owing to higher efficiency and selectivity of exciting specific states in atoms or molecules.

4 cl, 5 dwg